WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. --Thirteen New York mayors have committed to ending veteran homelessness in their cities by the end of 2015.

These mayors signed onto the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness, a federal initiative that aims to ensure that every man and woman who has served in the U.S. military has access to permanent housing and the services that will help them maintain a stable home life.

This initiative, which brings together the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, calls on mayors, governors and county officials nationwide to commit to eliminating veteran homelessness by working with federal and state government agencies, local service providers and housing advocates to pool resources and expertise.

More than 200 mayors and state and county officials have already joined this effort. New Orleans, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Houston are on track to meet or beat the 2015 goal. The following New York mayors and county executives have signed on to the Mayors Challenge:

Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Albany

Mayor Richard C. David, Binghamton

Mayor Wayne J. Hall, Sr., Hempstead

Mayor Herbert Morrow, Huntington

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano

Mayor Noam Bramson, New Rochelle

Mayor Paul A. Dyster, Niagara Falls

Mayor Joanne Yepsen, Saratoga Springs

Mayor Gary McCarthy, Schenectady

Suffolk County Executive, Steve Bellone

Mayor Al Rosamilia, Troy

Mayor Robert M. Palmieri, Utica

Mayor Thomas Roach, White Plains

“HUD applauds New York’s mayors for their commitment to ending veteran homelessness in the state by 2015,” said Holly Leicht, HUD regional administrator for New York and New Jersey. “The brave men and women of the military, who have given so much to protect our lives and liberty, deserve to have a place to call home. Through the Mayors Challenge, all levels of government are joining forces to make sure that they do.”